The USPTO's bimonthly publication for the independent inventor community

President Obama Signs America Invents Act

With several prominent independent inventors on stage and in the audience, President Barack Obama signed the America Invents Act into law on September 16, 2011. The legislation, which passed with broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate, represents the most significant reform of the U.S. patent system since 1836. "This much-needed reform will speed up the patent process so that innovators and entrepreneurs can turn a new invention into a business as quickly as possible," President Obama said.

The USPTO announced its revised fee schedule on September 16, following the America Invents Act being signed into law by President Barack Obama. The enactment of the legislation places a 15 percent surcharge on certain patent fees that became effective September 26, 2011.

On August 16, 2011, the USPTO issued patent number eight million to Dr. Robert J. Greenberg, Kelly H. McClure and Arup Roy for a visual prosthesis that enhances visual perception for people who have lost their sight.